VERNON, B.C. – The 2014 RBC Cup, Canada's 44th National Junior A Championship, held its awards banquet Friday night at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre. The recipients of all six individual awards were announced at the banquet.

The awards were based on the tournament's preliminary round, which ran from Saturday to Thursday.

In addition, Carleton Place Canadians forward Andy Sturtz was presented with the 2014 RBC Canadian Junior Hockey League Player of the Year award. Sturtz made his first season of Junior A hockey a memorable one, leading the Central Canada Hockey League in goals and points, and helping Carleton Place set CCHL records for wins and points in a season en route to the Canadians’ first league championship just five years after the team made the jump from Junior B. The CCHL MVP was also heavily involved in the community, volunteering with everything from the local minor hockey association to the Santa Claus Parade, all while maintaining an A+ average at Algonquin College. Sturtz will enroll at Penn State University in the fall of 2015, where he will pursue a degree in business

Richard Court of the OJHL’s Georgetown Raiders was on hand in Vernon to receive the RBC National Junior A Scholarship. Court was chosen from 10 finalists – one from each of the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s member leagues – to receive the $5,000 scholarship. A two-year member of the Raiders, Court more than tripled his offensive output in the Ontario Junior Hockey League this season, but his off-ice exploits were just as impressive. The Burlington, Ont., native will graduate from Appleby College next month with a 93 per cent average, setting himself up to continue his academic and hockey careers at a CIS or NCAA school. Court was also active in the community; among his many charitable efforts, he volunteered with Big Brothers and helped organize a bowling fundraiser for the organization that raised more than $5,400.

The RBC Cup Legacy Scholarships were also handed out at the awards banquet. Established following the 2004 RBC Royal Bank Cup in Grande Prairie, Alta., and contributed to following successful National Junior A Championships in Weyburn, Sask., Prince George, B.C., and Cornwall, Ont., these $500 scholarships are awarded to one graduating 20-year-old player from each of the five participating teams.

After six days of preliminary round action, the semifinals are set for Saturday. In the early game at 2 p.m. PT, the Vernon Vipers (2-2) will take on the Yorkton Terriers (2-2), while the Dauphin Kings (3-1) will face the Carleton Place Canadians (2-2) in the late semifinal at 6 p.m. PT.

The semifinal winners will meet in Sunday’s championship game, which can be seen at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT live on TSN/RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcasters (check your local listings). Both semifinals can be seen live via FASTHockey webcast at www.hockeycanada.ca/rbccup.

Tickets for both semifinals, as well as the championship game, are available by clicking HERE, or at the Kal Tire Place box office in Vernon.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Keegan Goodrich, Hockey Canada’s coordinator of media relations, is on site at the 2014 RBC Cup and is the media contact for interviews, information or photos. He can be reached at 403-519-5754 or kgoodrich@hockeycanada.ca.